I recently acquired this 1917 from another forum member. Gun now in hand I'm not sure exactly what I have or what to do with it. Here are the things I know, observed or been told:

*SN is 16788 lettered to have been shipped 2/2/1918 to Springfield.
*All numbers match including rips.
*Finish is a high polish deep, deep blue/black (carbona)
*Previous onwner won the gun on a bet in 1968...the gun was already restored.
*A mark by the pin indicates the barrel may have previously been removed.
*The quality of polishing on the barrel appears to be slightly better than the fram and sideplate.
*The timing and lockup are 'as new', probably better. (I have target pistols that aren't this tight)
*The hammer and trigger are case colored (maybe untouched?)

In the mid 1960's (or earlier) this gun was probably worth something like $25. Who would spend this kind of money to restore a surplus revolver? Could this have been a gunsmithing school project? Does this gun have any value beyond any other refinished 1917's? Should I use it, sell it or lock it away for another 40+ years? It really is beautiful.

Thanks in advanc for any thoughts, observations or suggestions.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

That's a beautiful Model 1917, Randy. I'd keep it and shoot it. If you get tired of it, sell it locally. You can probably get $800-900 for it right now around here, but not to a collector or accumulator. I see refinished in nickel S&Ws here all the time that sell for a lot more than you'll get selling here or one of the collector forums. There are still a lot of gun buyers out there that care more about how the gun looks and fires than whether it was restored or not. And, a lot of folks like the shiney ones whether it was blue originally or not. OBTW, I'd take those grips off and store them. Put on some rubbers for shooting comfort and blast away!

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

dishing on the sideplate edges shows an over agressive buffing, other than that it looks nice, should be a great "shooter" .
as for collector value.... it's gone...

Enjoy it as a good-looking shooter. Too bad about the side plate boundary, but that horse was out of the barn before you got the gun. It is a blessing to have a good-looking gun with no chance of being significantly devalued if you choose to use it.

So use it!

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David Wilson

I'll never understand why collectors are so darn picky. That is one fine looking gun. If the bullets weren't so heavy, I'd be tempted to open-carry it.

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Why, I aughta.....

That's one you can enjoy. It ain't a virgin, but it shore is a purty.
You can treat it like a lady or sumthin' else, but it's for sure gonna be fun.

I bet that in the early 1960's a decent reblue like that (polishing standards for sharp edges like the sideplate were lower) probably only cost about $25 done by a local gunsmith, which most towns and cities had a lot more of back then. Of course, in 1960, $25 was some money to most wage earners.

I'd shoot it plenty.

Shoot it. With the ball ammo it was intended for, you will wear out first.

No, it shows the moron buffed the sideplate and frame separately. Some people just know how to muck up an otherwise nice looking re-finish!

In it's current condition, it's been not very carefully polished & buffed, then hot blued. It could still be restored to what the original finish was, it all depends on how much money you want to spend.

With the tight lockup and timing, grips, and hammer & trigger in great condition, you're part of the way there.

Otherwise, shoot it and enjoy it the way it is.

Those 1917's were sold as surplus in the 50's and early/mid 60's for $25 and under.
A re-blue job from the town gunsmithery was about a $10 job on a handgun at the time....and soft buffing wheels were all the rage.

The $35 total was a weekly take home for a lot of people then.

where are you going to get something "better"? and what will you pay for it.

Many of the guns I've sold -- and later regretted having made the sale -- looked much like that.

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and what his trumpet saith

Shouldn't the hammer be grooved?

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I have enough project guns and shooters at this point. From a purely "Collector / Investor" point of view, I don't need any thing that isn't straight.

To me that gun would be a tough buy and an even tougher sell. I'd probably pass. I'm not having any trouble finding collectable guns these days...

No offense intended, and if you find that you need a good, shootable, fixed sight, rough and tumble .45 this is it for you.

Drew

That is nice!

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The American dream is alive

Quinn,
Thats a beauty of a revolver and i'd be proud to own
it and shoot it at my leisure. Regardless of value that
is a gun alot of people would like to have in their gun
safes. Have fun with it.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

You can figure the inflation from 1960 to present is about 8X to 10X for most things. Some items like cigarettes and gasoline are somewhat higher now. Remember, gas was about 20 cents per gallon and cigarettes were about a quarter a pack at that time. Hence a $25 blue job in 1960 is comparable to $200-250 at present. About right. Nothing at all wrong with a good reblue if the price is right and you can accept the fact that it won't have any collector premium and will always be a shooter.

That's what I wondered as well.

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Dennis
SWCA #2409, SWHF #353

Wow! Since you don't have to worry about collector
value, and if it was mine, I'd shoot it, but I'd treat it well.
Cleaned and polished after use, maybe make a display of
it between uses. It is just FINE!
TACC1

I think it looks like a solid shooter..........

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Go big or stay home

That is a fine revolver just the way it is!! Go shoot it and pass it on to your great grand kids, it will out last all of them!! Plus we expect a range report!!

Nice looking & good deal.
I wonder how many I passed up in the '60's.......

Who knows what the story was with that one with who or why but I think you wound up with a very nice shooter to be sure. Enjoy it for what it is.

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Stay safe people!

I would shoot it til it fell apart or my arm fell off or I ran out of lead! Would love to have it!

Shoot it, clean it, oil it. Repeat as necessary.

Larry

Not near early enough for the grooved hammer sides.

It's not a restoration, just a re-blue. But otherwise unmolested and original; a pretty shooter. And you sure can't hurt it anymore, so enjoy shooting it.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

...edited

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On the Oak Savannah

A beautiful gun, refinished or not! My suggestion is to shoot it and enjoy it.

If you decide you don't want it, let me know, I promise I'd give it a good home!

The collector value is no longer there, but it's a nice sound working revolver. Take it out and have fun with it.